As John traveled around preaching in order to prepare people for Jesus’ arrival on the public scene, he preached a message of repentance. Not the easiest of assignments! A message of repentance, of course, involves telling people about their sinful ways and persuading them to acknowledge and confess their sins and turn from any ungodliness. I can think of a lot of other messages I’d prefer to share with people… Maybe one of Jesus’ love? faithfulness? grace? mercy? But no, John was seemingly unafraid to give people a word that perhaps they didn’t want to hear but surely needed to hear.

But ya know what? I think sometimes we actually do want to hear the truth, even if it’s hard. There’s so much slick, sugarcoated communication going around these days that it can be refreshing to hear the simple, straight truth—even if it’s inconvenient and challenging to take in. According to the New Testament, John the Baptist’s perhaps difficult message of truth about sin was well received for the most part. In fact, people were drawn to him and his unapologetic announcement, and they responded actionably. 

The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. -Mark 1:5

John was bold and relentless as he stayed the course, living a mission-driven life that pointed to Jesus. As the appointed immediate forerunner to the Messiah, it could have been easy for John to puff out his chest and feel important. After so many Old Testament prophets foretold of a coming savior, John was the one who’d actually get to see Jesus introduce Himself to the people! I wonder if John ever thought something like, Wow, God must really trust me since I’m the one who gets to baptize people and get them ready to meet His Son personally! If he did have thoughts like that, Scripture sure doesn’t hint at any air of arrogance or self-importance coming from John the Baptist’s direction. In fact, quite the opposite. When some priests and Levites once questioned him about his identity, trying to figure out if maybe he was the long-awaited savior, John did not hesitate in his response that clarified his identity.

 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” -John 1:23

Did you catch that? He didn’t even declare his own name in his response. John the Baptist’s identity was completely wrapped up in Jesus. In identifying himself, he humbly called himself “the voice of one calling in the wilderness.” Wow. He was also often telling the people gathered around him that although he could baptize them with water, someone greater was coming who would baptize them with the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, I think some verses later in John 1 indirectly tell us how much John kept the focus off himself and on Jesus at all times. When he and two of his disciples finally had a personal encounter with Jesus, John’s disciples immediately left John’s side to follow Jesus. 

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. -John 1:35-36 

Stop and think about that scene. Who knows how long these two men had been following John… Maybe a few days, but maybe several weeks or months! Surely they would have felt some sense of loyalty and attachment to him, don’t you think? But it’s obvious that John spoke so passionately and highly about Jesus (rather than himself) that it just took one quick encounter for his own disciples to leave his side to follow after the One who was much more worthy of being followed. Scripture doesn’t tell us John’s reaction to this situation, but knowing what we know about John the Baptist, I’d venture to guess this was just the way he’d hoped things would go down. 

So what can we learn about God from John the Baptist?

• God has a plan and a purpose for each of us. John was “filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth” (Luke 1:15). 
• God can and will use you no matter who/where you are. For example, John was out in the wilderness wearing camel’s hair and eating locusts, and the people came to him. 
• God is faithful to keep His Word. Though John, prophecies were fulfilled. When God says something we can consider it done. His Word is as good as the most valuable gold. 
• God is worthy of a life dedicated to Him.

What can we learn about people/ourselves from John the Baptist?

• Don’t shy away from speaking the truth, no matter what. Sometimes the truth, though difficult and inconvenient, is exactly what people need (and even want) to hear.
• If people know you, they should know Jesus. When you’re bursting with Him rather than yourself, the people around you will be constantly, organically and naturally drawn to Him—even if they don’t realize it.
• It’s worthwhile to spend time in solitude. John the Baptist lived in the desert until his public ministry began, and, remember, it was there that God strengthened him and spoke to him.

What other things do you learn about God and yourself from reading about and studying John the Baptist? More of his story can be found in Matthew 3, 11 and 14; Mark 1 and 6; Luke 1, 3 and 7; and John 1 and 3. Ultimately, John’s life ended tragically, as you may know. But while he was on earth, it sure seems like he was an incredible model of humble dedication to making Jesus known. If people say that about me when I die someday, that will be the best sign of a life well lived.